Inlay procedure for paper under acrylic?

[Metallion]

Making a JEM pyramid inlay fretboard with the colour inlays made of paper - as the original.

I'm having difficulties to get a clean result, though, with the edges of the paper pieces getting wet from the epoxy before it hardens and when it's all set it remains looking like paper with wet edges under the clear acrylic inlay.

This appears most clearly on the multi colour (3 paper) inlays - Green, yellow and pink in the same groove, fret 3 and up.

I had to put several kilos of weight on the inlays when setting as there were tiny bubbles occuring from the acrylic inlay being placed over the epoxy and pressed into the routed cavity.

How can this paper wetting be remedied?

Does the extreme bubble-busting pressure needed during setting induce the epoxy absorption into the paper?

[Death.by.G-string]

I've got 2 sugestions but ive never tried it myself so please be carefull and try them out first.

1) let the epoxy dry a little before putting the paper in.

2) first glue the paper on to the inlay.

Good luck!

[AlaskaBat]

Cover the paper insert with epoxy before inserting the acrylic pieces:
http://projectguitar.com/tut/3dinlay1.htm

[Metallion]

Originally Posted by AlaskaBat

Cover the paper insert with epoxy before inserting the acrylic pieces:
http://projectguitar.com/tut/3dinlay1.htm

Good tut, but he uses plastic and can therefore never get the wet issues I have with paper.

[Serratus]

I used the paper technique for doing pyramids but instead of using paper I used plastic (the thin plastic sheet like the plastic used for gels on par lights). Just get the right colours and cut out the shapes you want, and then stick them on top of some white plastic sheet (the same stuff but not see-thru), then glue the clear acrylic over the top (so from bottom to top you have a layer of white plastic, then the coloured parts, then the thicker clear on top). Imho this will eliminate your problems, and the plastic is more durable than paper.

[AlaskaBat]

Originally Posted by Metallion

Good tut, but he uses plastic and can therefore never get the wet issues I have with paper.

That's the point i was trying to make, as you stated you stated your problem with the paper getting wet. Start over with theis technique, and you'll be good to go.

[Metallion]

Originally Posted by AlaskaBat

That's the point i was trying to make, as you stated you stated your problem with the paper getting wet. Start over with theis technique, and you'll be good to go.

The goal, as stated archetypically, is to use paper.

As the original JEMs have paper inlays, they must have solved this.

[AlaskaBat]

Use some clear epoxy and completely coat the top of your paper. Then, place your acrylic inlay over it. Trim if needed. Let dry, then place in the fretboard.